Perforator



Aug. 11, 1970 P. o. G-OTSCHEWSKI ET AL 35 PERFORATOR Filed Feb. 14, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O US. Cl. 234-108 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a perforator for selectively punching perforations in a record medium. The record medium is fed through a perforating or punching zone at which code and feed perforations are punched in the record medium in accordance with received code signals. In making the perforations, punch members cooperate with die openings in a die block. Each punch member is driven by a lever pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot which in turn is driven by an armature operator lever pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot. Each armature operator lever has an integral armature cooperable with an electromagnet and is directly paired with its respective driven lever by a rolling contact kinematic connection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to the art of perforators or reperforators for communication equipment.

Brief description of the prior art Perforators having a variety of different punch operating linkages have been previously devised. Some of these perforators are largeand bulky and therefore lack the compactness required in modern applications, and others have a large number of levers and pin connections, or armatures which are required to travel a relatively great distance with respect to the desired length of travel of the associated punch members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a simple. compact perforator illustrated as having reciprocably mounted punch members cooperable with respective die openings in a die. Each punch member is individually and selectively driven into punching cooperation with a thin recording medium and its respective die opening by a separate drive means. Each drive means allows free-flight of the associated punch member relative to an armature operator lever during the end portion of the punching stroke and the beginning portion of the return stroke. The invention reliably assures that when the punching stroke is complete, each punch will be driven out of punching cooperation with its respective die opening. A relatively heavy spring acts on each punch member only toward the end portion of the punching stroke and at the beginning portion of the return stroke so that the drive force imparted to each punch member is counteracted during only a small portion of the punching and return strokes. An additional, relatively light spring constantly urges the punch member to a rest or return position.

Other features and objects of the invention will be more readily apparent from the accompanying illustrative drawings and the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a perforat or in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1;

3,523,641 Patented Aug. 11, 1970 FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the levers which is used to operate a punch member;

:FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7--7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line '88 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating in detail the manner in which one armature operator lever is pivotally mounted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, there is shown a fragmentary portion of a perforator generally indicated at 10 having a frame 11, a die block 12, a punch block 13 carrying punch members in the form of individually and selectively operable reciprocally guided pins 14 and 14', a punch pin operating assembly generally indicated at 15, and a drive shaft 16 mounted to the frame 11. The die 12 has die openings or holes 17 and 17' in axial alignment with guide bores or holes 18 and 18 in the die block 12. Locating pins 12' accurately locate the die block 12 relative to the punch block 13. The pins 14 and 14' have enlarged shanks 19 guided in bores 20-. The bores 20 are in axial alignment with respective bores 18 and 18' and 17 and 17'. The punch pin 14', which has a smaller diameter than the punch pins 14, is guided in bores 18 and 20 and cooperates with the lower annular cutting edge of bore 17' to punch the feed hole or perforation in the relatively thin record medium R, and the punch pins 14 guided in bores 18 and 20 selectively cooperate with the lower annular cutting edges of bores 17 to punch code holes or perforations in the record medium R in accordance with the received signal. The record medium R, which is shown to take the form of a record tape, is advanced stepwise by a feed 'wheel 21 secured to the shaft 16. The feed wheel 21 has feed pins 22 which engage in feed holes or perforations formed at the punching zone. The shaft 16 and the feed wheel 21 which it carries are driven stepwise by a drive mechanism diagrammatically indicated by phantom lines 23.

The shank 19 of each of the punch pins 14 and 14' has a transversely extending slot 24 at its one side. Upper surface 25 and lower surface 26 of each slot 24 are flat and extend parallel to each other and in a direction perpendicular to the punch pin axis.

The punch pin operating assembly 15 has a frame 27 which is suitably secured to the frame 11. The frame 27 is shown to include a pair of parallel plates 28 and 29. Pivots or pins 30, 31, 32 and 33 are anchored in plates 28 and 29. The pivots 30, 3-1, 32 and 33 are considered to be fixed in that their axes do not shift. Identical levers 34 are pivotally mounted by the pivot 30. There are shown to be nine punch pins 14 and 14' and nine associated levers 34. Each lever 34 has projections 35 and 36, the outer surfaces of which are arcuate. The projection 35 is in constant contact with the upper surface 25, and the projection 36 is in constant contact with the lower surface 26, of the associated punch pins 14 and 14. Each lever 34 is directly coupled with its respective punch pin 14 (and 14) in this manner.

The punch pin operating assembly 15 is shown to have three sets of armature operator assemblies 37, 38 and 39 disposed in an angularly staggered arrangement with re-' spect to the pivot axis of levers 34. The assembly 37 is shown in detail in FIGS. and 6, and the assemblies 38 511.139 are shown in detail in respective FIGS. 7 and 8. The armature operator assembly 37 includes armature operator levers 37a, 37b and 370 having respective armatures 37d, 37c and 37 secured integrally thereto. Similarly, the armature operator assembly 38 includes armature operator levers 38a, 38b and 38c having respective armature 38d, 38e and 38 secured integrally thereto. In like manner, the armature operator assembly 39 includes armature operator levers 39a, 39b and 39c having respective armatures 39d, 39c and 39 secured integrally thereto. The armature operator levers 37b, 38b and 3% are identical and straight, the levers 37a, 38a and 39a are identical but have bends extending in one direction, and the levers 37c, 38c and 390 are identical but have bends extending in the opposite direction. The levers 37a, 37b and 370 are spaced apart by distance equal to the distances which the levers 38a, 38b and 380 and the levers 39a, 39b and 390 are spaced apart. The ends of the levers 37a, 37b, 370, 38a, 38b, 380, 39a, 39b and 390 are provided with involute contoured surfaces or faces 40, and each of these levers is shown in direct contact with a respective short lever arm 41, 42 or 43 of its associated lever 34. These short lever arms 41, 42 and 43 have respective involute contoured surfaces 41', 42 and 43. These short lever arms 41, 42 and 43 are identical in size and length. The axis of the lever arms 41, 42 and 43 coincides with the axis of pin 30. Thus, the involute surfaces 40 of the levers 37a, 37b and 370 are shown to be in direct driving engagement with the involute surfaces 41 of three corresponding levers 34. The involute surfaces 40 of the levers 38a, 38b and 38c are shown to be in direct driving engagement with the involute surfaces 42 of three corresponding levers 34 as best shown in FIG. 7, and the involute surfaces 40 of the levers 39a, 39b and 39c are shown to be in direct driving engagement with involute contoured surfaces 43 of three corresponding levers 34 as best shown in FIG. 8.

A hub 44 is press fitted into bore 45 of each armature operator lever and its respective armature (FIG. Spacers 46 provide the proper amount of spacing between the armature operator levers. Moreover, each hub 44 is press fitted to such a position relative to its respective operator lever that the operator levers are properly spaced with respect to the levers 34 and also with respect to the plates 28 and 29, as best seen by a comparison of FIGS. 5, 7 and 8.

Collars 47 and 48 are secured to the pivot in spaced apart relationship so as to prevent the levers 34 from shifting in an axial direction relative to the pivot 30. Spacers 49 maintain the levers 34 in spaced apart relationship on the pivot 30.

Armature operator assembly 37 has three electromagnets 50; armature operator assembly 38 has three electromagnets 51; and armature operator assembly 39 has three electromagnets 52. Electromagnets 50, 51 and 52 have respective coils 54, 55 and 56 and cores 57, 58 and 59. The cores 57, 58 and 59 are in alignment with their associated operator levers and armatures as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. For example, the armature operator lever 38a and its associated armature 38d are in alignment with the respective core 58; armature operator lever 39b and its associated armature 39c are in alignment with respective core 59.

Clamping bolts 60 and 61 pass through enlarged bores in the cores and spacers of the respective armature operator assembly. In particular, the bolts 60 and 61 are threadably received by the plate 28. The other ends of the screws 60 and '61 are received in counter bores 62 and 63 in the plate 29. The bores 62 and 63 terminate at shoulders 64 and 65. Enlarged ends 66 and 67 of the bolts 60 and 61 abut shoulders 64 and 65. When the bolts 60 and 61 are tightened, spacers 53 and cores 57 are held clamped by the plates 28 and 29. As the bolts 60 and 61 pass through over-sized bores in the cores, the position of the cores can be adjusted with respect to the armatures when the bolts 60 and 61 are loosened. Upon being tightened, the screws 60 and 61 clamp the cores in their adjusted positions.

Bars 69, 70 and 71 are secured to the plates 28 and 29 by screws 72, thereby providing a rigid assembly. Each of the bars 69, 70, and 71 threadably receives three stop screws 73 which regulate the amount of pivotal movement of respective armature operator levers. The stop screws 73 of each bar 69, 70 and 71 are in alignment with their respective armature operator levers. For example, as best shown in FIG. 5 the stop screws 73 are in alignment with respective armature operator levers 37a, 37b and 370.

A spring mounting member 74 threadably received by plate 28 is retained in adjusted position by a lock nut 75. Each lever 34 is provided with an aperture 68 near its one end. Springs 76 are hooked into apertures (not shown) in the member 74 and apertures 75 in the levers 34. The springs 76 urge the levers 34 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby urging the shanks 19 of the punch pins 14 and 14 against an eccentric stop rod 77. The position of the eccentric stop rod 77 can be adjusted by loosening a screw 78 and by rotating the stop rod 77 about axis 77'. In addition, a set screw 78' can be provided to lock the stop rod 77 in adjusted position. The stop rod 77 thereby determines the rest or return position of the punch pins 14 and 14'.

A block 79 is adjustably secured to the punch block 13 by means of screws 79 extending through enlarged apertures 79" in the block 79 and threadably received in the punch block 13. The block 79 has a depending comb 80 shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 9, which serves to guide the driven levers 34. The guide slots 81 of the comb 80 are in alignment with slots 24 of the shanks 19 of the punch pins 14 and 14'. The block 79 has nine bores 82, one of which is shown in FIG. 1. Axially aligned with each bore 82 is a small bore 83 in which a pin or plunger 84 is guidingly received. Each pin 84 has a collar or ring 85 secured to its upper end. A relatively heavy spring 86 received in each bore 82 abuts the collar 85 and tends to urge the respective pin 84 downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1. Each spring 86 serves to assure return of the associated punch pin 14 (and 14) after the punching stroke is completed. The other end of the spring 86 abuts a set screw 87 threadably received by the upper portion of the bore 82. The force which the spring 86 exerts against the collar 85 can be regulated by turning the set screw 87. The pins 84 are disposed in alignment with and are spaced apart from the levers 34 as best shown in FIG. 1. Both the relatively heavy springs 86 and the relatively light springs 76 act in the same direction and tend to return the levers 34, upon which they operate, to the rest or return position shown in FIG. 1.

In adjusting the perforator 10 for operation, the stop rod 77 is adjusted so that the punch pins 14 and 14' have their punching or cutting edges disposed the desired distance below the surface 13' of the punch block 13. The position of the punch pins 14 and 14' determines the position of the respective levers 34. The pins 84 terminate short of the levers 34 so that a gap exists between the pins 84 and the respective levers 34 when the punch pins 14 and 14' are in rest or return position against the stop rod 77. In adjusting the armature operator levers 37a, 37b, 376, 38a, 38b, 38c, 39a, 39b and 390 relative to respective levers 34 the screws 60 and 61 are loosened. Each electromagnet is separatelyadjusted with respect to its associated armature. As the procedure for adjusting each electromagnet individually with respect to the associated armature operator lever (and its armature) is the same, only the procedure for adjusting the electromagnet 50 which is associated with armature operator lever 37a and its armature 37d is described in detail; in making this adjustment, a gauge (not shown) is positioned in the record medium slot R, this gauge being thicker than the thickness of the record medium. Now, the bolts 60 and 61 are loosened, and the coil 54 of the electromagnet 50 which is associated with armature 37d is energized. With the electromagnet 50 energized, the armature lever 37a, its armature 37d and associated electromagnet 50 can be pivoted as a unit relative to bolts 60 and 61 about pin 33, thereby causing counterclockwise pivoting of associated lever 34 and upward movement of punch pin 14 (FIG. 1) until that punch pin 14 contacts the gauge (not shown). Thereupon, the bolts 60 and 61 are tightened and the electromagnet 50 is de-energized. Another gauge (not shown) is placed between marginal end 57" of the pole face 57' and the end portion of lever 37a to provide a predetermined gap, and thereupon the stop screw 73 is turned until it touches the lever 37a. This gap is very small and thus the lever 37a pivots through a very small arc. The smaller the gap between the electromagnet and the armature, the greater is the force tending to pivot the armature lever about pivot 33 when the electromagnet is energized. In the illustrated embodiment, and by way of example not limitation, the gap between the armature operator lever 37a and its armature 37d on the one hand and the pole face 57 at marginal end 57 on the other hand is equal to approximately onefourth of the distance which the associated punch pin 14 is driven before associated lever 34 loses contact with lever 37a. This is brought about because the lever arm 41 of lever 34, measured from pivot axis of lever 34 to the line of contact between the involute contoured surface 41 and the involute contoured surface 40, is approximately one-fourth as long as the long lever arm lever 34 which is effectively provided by that portion of the lever 34 between pivot axis of lever 34 and the place where its projection 35 engages surface 25 of the associated punch pin 14.

As the cycle of operation of each punch pin 14 and 14 and its associated linkage is the same, only the operation of the punching cycle for the punch pin 14 and associated linkagewhich includes armature operator lever 37a and associated electromagnet 50 and driven lever 34 will be described in detail. Accordingly, when the electromagnet 50 is energized, the lever 37a and its armature 37d are pivoted clockwise (FIG. 1) until they strike the face 57 which serves as a stop. Because the lever 37a is adjusted as indicated above, the lever 37a and its armature 37d strikes the face 57' slightly before the punching end of the punch pin 14 starts punching the perforation in the record medium R. The punch pin 14 continues travelling upwardly in free-flight with respect to armature operator lever 37a and the associated lever 34 continues pivoting counterclockwise (FIG. 1) even after the lever 37a and its armature 37d strike the face 57' due to the momentum of the pin 14 and lever 34 and also due to the fact that arm 41 of the lever 34 can separate from the lever 37a. While the pin 14 is penetrating the record medium R, the lever 34 contacts the associated pin 84, and the spring 86 starts counteracting the momentum of lever 34 and the punch pin 14. The forces of spring 86 and'associated spring 76 and the punching resistance offered by the recording medium R decelerate the pin 14 at the end portion of the punching stroke. These forces cause termination of the punching stroke when the perforation has been made, that is, when the end of the punch pin 14 has fully entered the die hold 17. In addition, springs 86 and 76 serve immediately to return the punch pin 14 and lever 34 to their return or initial positions. Return of the punch pin 14 to its position in abutment with the stop rod 77 occurs during its return stroke. During the return stroke, the lever 34 loses contact with associated pin 84 before reestablishment of the rolling contact connection between face 41 of arm 41 of the lever 34 and face 40 of the lever 37a. Continued clockwise pivoting of the lever 34,

during the return stroke of the punch pin 14, the arm 41 of the lever 34 reestablishes rolling contact with lever 37a, thereby causing the lever 37a to be pivoted counterclockwise (FIG. 1) until it strikes its respective stop screw 73. Accordingly, partial return of the punch member 14 occurs before any return movement of the lever 37a, to the position shown in FIG. 1, is effected.

A feed hole, or perforation, is formed in the record medium at each punching location irrespective of whether or not a code perforation is punched. In addition, one or more code perforations can be made in the record medium during each punching cycle. The energization of the appropriate electromagnet or electromagnets 50, 51 and 52 of the respective armature operator assemblies 37, 38 and 39 is controlled by suitable circuitry not disclosed in the present application. Such circuitry is responsive to received code signals and effects energization of the appropriate electromagnet or electromagnets during each punching cycle.

Other embodiments and modifications of this invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are included within its scope as best defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A perforator for selectively punching code perforations in a thin record medium, comprising: die means, punch means including a punch member selectively cooperable with said die means for punching code perforations at selected locations in the record medium, and means for driving said punch member between a first position out of punching cooperation with said die means and a second position in punching cooperation with said die means, said driving means including an electromagnet and an armature operator lever having an integral armature, said driving means having an operative connection between said armature operator lever and said punch member to enable at least partial return of said punch member from said second position to said first position before return movement of said armature operator lever is effected, movement of said punch member from said first position to said second position constituting a punching stroke and movement of said punch member from said second position to said first position constituting a return stroke, and return spring means effective only toward the end portion of said punching stroke and at the beginning portion of said return stroke of said punch member for urging said punch member to the first position.

2. A perforator as defined in claim 1, including means for adjustably mounting said spring means so that the period of time which said spring means imparts urging force to said punch member can be varied.

3. A perforator as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring means includes a spring, a plunger, a mounting block for mounting said spring and said plunger so that said spring exerts an urging force on said plunger, said plunger being operative to transmit the urging force of said spring to said punch member.

4. A perforator for selectively punching code perforations in a thin record medium, comprising: die means, punch means including a punch member selectively cooperable with said die means for punching code perforations at selected locations in the record medium, and means for driving said punch member between a first postion out of punching cooperation with said die means and a second position in punching cooperation with said die means, movement of said punch member from said first position to said second position constituting a punching stroke and movement of said punch member from said second position to said first position constituting a return stroke, said driving means including an electromagnet, an armature controlled by said electromagnet, and a drive connection drivingly connecting said armature and said punch member, said drive connection providing free-flight of said punch member relative to said armature during the end 7 portion of said punching stroke and during the initial portion of said return stroke, and return spring means for counteracting the momentum of said punch member essentially only during the end portion of the punching stroke of said punch member.

5. A perforator as defined in claim 4, including means for adjustably mounting said spring means so that the period of time which said spring means imparts urging force to said punch member can be varied, and means for varying the force of said spring means.

6. A perforator for selectively punching code perforations in a thin record medium, comprising: die means having a plurality of die openings, punch means having a plurality of punch members individually and selectively cooperable with respective die openings for punching code perforations at selected locations in the record medium, and separate means for driving each punch member between a first position out of punching cooperation with the respective die openings and a second position in punching cooperation with the respective die openings each driving means including an electromagnet and an armature operator lever having an integral armature operatively related to its punch member each driving means having an operative connection between said armature operator lever and its punch member to enable at least partial return of its punch member from said second position to said first position before return movement of its armature operator lever is effected, movement of each punch member from its first position to its second position constituting a punching stroke and movement of each punch member from its second position to its first position constituting a return stroke, and each driving means including return spring means effective essentially only toward the end portion of the punching stroke and at the beginning portion of the return stroke for urging said punch member to its return position.

7. A perforator as defined in claim 6, wherein said spring means includes a spring individually associated with each punch member, a mounting block for adjustably mounting said springs as unit, and means for individually adjusting the spring force of each spring.

8. A perforator for selectively punchingcode perforations in a thin record medium, comprising: die means having a plurality of die openings, punch means including a plurality of punch members individually and selectively cooperable with respective die openings for punching code perforations at selected locations in the record medium, and separate means for driving each punch member between a first position out of punching cooperation with the respective die openings and a second position in punching cooperation with the respective die opening, movement of each punch member from its first position to its second position constituting a punching stroke and movement of said punch member from its second position to its first position constituting a return stroke, said driving means including an electromagnet, an armature controlled by said electromagnet, and a drive connection drivingly connecting said armature and said punch member, said drive connection providing freeflight of said punch member relative to said armature during the end portion of said punching stroke and during the initial portion of said return stroke, and return spring means for counteracting the momentum of said punch member essentially only during the end portion of the punching stroke of said punch member.

9. A perforator as defined in claim 8, wherein said spring means includes a spring individually associated with each punch member, a mounting block for adjustably mounting said springs as a unit, and means for individually adjusting the spring force of each spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,018,035 1/1962 Pinton 234l08 3,066,859 12/1962 Darwin et al 234107 3,260,446 7/1966 Iwai et al. 2341()8 WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 234109 

